The European Committee of the Regions is calling for measures to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in Europe, especially among girls and women. With an opinion prepared by Csaba Borboly (RO/EPP), President of Harghita County Council, the EU's assembly of local and regional representatives calls on the European Commission and the Member States to support STEM-related initiatives at local and regional level, to ensure necessary investment and to tackle shortages in this field in the planning of cohesion policy.

The European Committee of the Regions is calling for measures to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in Europe, especially among girls and women. With an opinion prepared by Csaba Borboly (RO/EPP), President of Harghita County Council, the EU's assembly of local and regional representatives calls on the European Commission and the Member States to support STEM-related initiatives at local and regional level, to ensure necessary investment and to tackle shortages in this field in the planning of cohesion policy.

​Developing sustainable bioeconomy strategies in EU regions and strengthening science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education were on the agenda of the CoR's Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) on 2 April. Members also discussed how cities and regions can contribute to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals related to social policy, education and innovation.

Local and regional leaders meeting in Palermo this week emphasised that the challenge of territorial cohesion can only be addressed if the EU's next long-term budget helps cities and regions to improve digital connectivity, digital public services and their accessibility to the public, while ensuring that no region is left behind in the digital transformation. Bridging the digital divide and speeding up the development of Digital Single Market through the involvement of cities and regions have been key components of the work of the current mandate of the SEDEC Commission of the European Committee of the Regions.